First Fears: a six-week online summer school with published horror writers

First Fears:

a six-week online summer school with published horror writers

by Ellis Reed

Starting next month, First Fears will present a series of six weekly workshops with published (and in some cases award-winning) writers of horror fiction. The programme also includes workshops and optional one-on-one sessions with creative writing lecturer and First Fears co-ordinator Alex Davis.

Depending on the desired level of participation, prices range from £65 to £165, with all six author sessions included in the basic £65 package.

They are:

Tuesday 14 June, ‘Planning and Writing a Novel’ with Tim Major. Tim Major has written in multiple genres and even has a few Sherlock Holmes-es to his name. His horror works include Carus & Mitch, which was shortlisted for Best Novella at This Is Horror 2015, and Hope Island.

Tuesday 21 June, ‘Writing Horror Short Stories’ with Georgina Bruce. Georgina Bruce’s short-form fiction includes the award-winning ‘White Rabbit’, which can be found in her collection The House of Wounds.

Tuesday 28 June, ‘Atmosphere and Location’ with Rhiannon Ward. Rhiannon Ward’s gothic thrillers include The Quickening, which was a Radio Times Book of the Year.

Tuesday 5 July, ‘Writing Dark Fantasy’ with James Brogden. James Brogden’s published works include Hekla’s Children, which the Guardian described as ‘a visceral, seat-of-the-pants thriller.’

Tuesday 12 July, ‘Writing Folk Horror Stories’ with Tracy Fahey. Tracy Fahey’s debut collection The Unheimlich Manoeuvre was shortlisted for a British Fantasy Award for Best Collection. Since then, she’s gone from strength to strength.

Tuesday 19 July, Simon Bestwick (session TBC). If that name sounds familiar, it should do; we’re fans. He’s the author of seven novels and four short story collections and has been shortlisted for the British Fantasy Award four times.

Event organiser Alex Davis says: ‘I’m very excited to launch First Fears and offer a dedicated summer school experience for horror writers, and I’m delighted with the brilliant line-up of speakers for the event. With a host of different ticket packages available, the event allows attendees to tailor their experience to suit.’ Tickets are available here, and you can read more here.

Ellis Reed

Ellis Reed

Ellis Reed is the News Editor for Horrified. He also wrote some ghost stories during lockdown, which you can read for free on his blog.

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